Bottle carrier with contour end gusset



Jan. 26, 1965 J. v. MAHON 3,167,214

BOTTLE CARRIER WITH CONTOUR END GUSSET Filed Nov. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jim YMa/wn Jan. 26, 1965 v. MAHON 3,167,214

BOTTLE CARRIER WITH CONTOUR END GUSSET Filed Nov. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI Wm In z/erzi'or @7272. yMcz/Lan 3,167,214 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 3,167,214 BOTTLE CARRIER WITH CONTOUR END GUEaSET John V.'Mahon, Norristown, Pa, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,664 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-116) The present invention relates to bottle carriers formed from foldable sheet material, such as folding paperboard, and more particularly relates to a type of carrier formed from a single blank that is wrapped around a group of bottles or similarly shaped articles.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a paperboard carrier for a group of bottles, or like articles, in which the carrier is provided with a relatively stiff top panel, formed with convenient carrying means, such top panel having connected therewith an effective end panel structure designed to stiffen and reinforce the upper part of the carrier and at the same time shielding to a large extent the contents of the bottles in the carrier from exposure to light.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paperboard carrier for bottles in which the carrier has a flat top panel resting against the bottle caps, such fiat top panel terminating in sloping panels joined with the vertical side panels, and such side panels having narrow infolded panels connected by gussets to downfolded flaps on the sloping panels, there being additional downwardly foldable flaps at the ends of the top panel arranged to be joined with the flaps on the sloping panels, thus to form a reinforced end structure for the top portion of the carrier.

A still further object is to provide a novel and effective form of tear-out strip to aiford ready access to the contents of the carrier.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton made in accordance with the invention, showing such carton empty, but as it would appear when secured around a group of bottles;

FIGURE 2 is an end view showing the carton enclosing a group of bottles;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along line 55 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank from which the carton may be made.

The carrier, as herein disclosed, is particularly useful for packaging groups of bottles containing beverages which are best preserved by being protected from light. The carrier is designed to be wrapped laterally around the bottle group, and an end structure is provided which cooperates With the labels of the bottles to assure exclusion of a maximum amount of light from the bottle contents.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the carrier comprises a bottom panel 1, side wall panels 2 and 3, inclined panels 4 and 5 joined to the upper edges of the side wall panels, and top panel sections 6 and 7 arranged to be overlapped to form a composite top wall.

Extended edge portions, see FIGURE 6, are hinged along the lateral edges of the blank to provide foldable reinforcing and light excluding panel sections. The extended sections on wall panels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are indicated respectively at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, preferably integrally joined by foldable gussets defined by score lines. Between the extended sections 11, 12 and 13 the gussets, indicated at 16 and 17, are preferably V-shaped and symmetrically disposed relatively to the respective score lines 18 and 19, defining the lines of fold between wall panels 1, 2, and 3. The lines of fold between the extended panel sections and their attached wall panels are indicated at 20, 2t).

Between the extended sections 12 and 14 and their counterparts 13 and 15, the gussets, indicated at 21 and 22 respectively, are defined along one side by score lines which are extensions of the score lines, indicated at 23 and 24, between wall panels 2 and 4, at one end of the blank, and wall panels 3 and 5 at the other end. These extended scores, indicated at 23a and 24a respectively, provide lines of fold between extended panel sections 14 and 21 and their counterpart sections 15 and 22.

The lines of fold between extended panel section 12 and gusset 21, and between extended panel section 13 and gusset 22, are formed by score lines indicated respectively at 25 and 26. The angles between the fold lines 25 and 3a and between fold lines 26 and 24a are preferably the same in the interest of symmetry in the shape of the carrier, but such angles may vary depending on the desired slope of the inclined wall panels 4 and 5.

Irregularly shaped, extended sections are formed at the ends of the top panels 6 and 7, indicated at 28 and 29 on panel 6, and at 30 and 31 on panel 7.

The extended sections 28 and 14 and extended sections 3d and 15 are separated by slits 34 and 35 respectively. At the opposite side of the blank the sections 29 and 14 and sections 31 and 15 are separated by slits 36 and 37 respectively. These slits, as herein shown, terminate at the fold lines 2% Ztl and meet the ends of the respective fold lines 33 and 39 along which panels 6 and 7 are hinged to their attached inclined panels. The angle of the slits may vary but this angle is preferably such that the edges of the respective panel sections 28, 29, 30 and 31 in the set-up carrier will conform with the slope of the inclined panels 4 and 5. While not essential, it is to be noted that the edges of panel sections 14, 14 and 15, 15 formed by the slits assume positions in the set-up carrier approximately normal to the top and bottom wall panels.

The top panels 6 and 7 are formed with U-shaped cuts to provide registering finger openings. The tabs formed by the cuts indicated at 41, 41 and 42, 42 are folded inwardly of the carrier and may swing between the bottles within the carrier through and thus form cushioning elements for ease in lifting the carrier.

The overlapping strip of each top panel 6 and 7 which includes the U-shaped finger openings is preferably formed to be readily torn away from the remainder of these panels. For this purpose a weakened line provided by short, spaced, angular slits, indicated at 43, is formed in panel 6 and a similar weakened line, indicated at 44, is formed in panel 7. Panel 6 is preferably disposed to overlie panel 7 and is formed with a displaceable tab 45 ex tending into panel section 29. This displaceable tab is preferably formed by making a line of short, spaced slits separated by small nicks. At one end, the slits defining the tab join with the line of slits 43 in panel 6, and at the other end, the line of slits defining the tab is extended to the free edge of the panel.

At the end of panel 7, adjacent the displaceable tab 45, such panel is suitably cut away, as indicated at 47, to be clear of the tab. At the opposite end of panel 7 a slot 48 is preferably formed which extends to the line of tear. This slot is desirable as it allows the panel 6 and attached extended section 28 to be more efiectively secured outside the panel 7 and its down-folded section 28.

The carrier, herein shown, is designed for two rows of three bottles eachand means are preferably included for engagement with the topor'cap of each bottle. For

7 this purpose die-cut openings 50 .and 51 are formed along the respectivefold linesl'as and 39. 1 These openings allow a portion of the cap to extend outwardly of the carrier and serve to hold the upper endsof the bottlesfirmly in position within the carrier.

The carrier may be secured about a bottle group either by hand or by. suitable machinery. A group of bottlesis placed on thebottom panel afterwhich the end portions ofthe blank are swung up and around the ho tles. The panel 7 is first brought down against thebottle' tops. Thereafter, panel 6 is folded against panel 7 and secured to it, either by adhesive, previously applied to one or both contacting surfaces, 'or the securing may be effected by other means such as gummed tape or metallic,

fasteners. 7

At an appropriate point in setting up the; carrier,

- which may be after the'side panels have been brought,

against [the bottle group, the extended sections 12 and 13 at each endof the carrier are swung inwardly through approximately 180. These sections, if desired, may be secured to their attached sidewalls. "If not so secured,

they may be formedof such width as to brush forcibly against the bottles in reaching their inwardly folded positions and thus be restrained from outward'movernent. Y The action of swinging sections 12 and 13 inward causessec'tion 11 on'the bottom wall panel to swing upward due to the gusset connections. Theextended sections at each end of the carrier are preferably each formed with aninwardly foldable panel or flap 52, hav

ing curved margins which conform to the curvature of the bottles. The free edges of the'sections 11 may also be curved to fit closely against the bottles.

At the'sam'e time that sections 11 are swung up by the inward swing of the sections 12 and 13, the sections 14, 14 and 15,115 will'be swung inward due to their gusset connection with the sections 12 and 13. Assurn ing that the incliuedpanels have previously been broughtto their final position, the panel sections 14 and 15w1ll be broughtto a position approximately at right angles to their attached, inclined panels when the sections 12 and 13 are in their final position along their attached side walls. The gussets 21 and 22 at the sides of the carrier extend from the upper ends of the-respective sections '12 I to the overlapping panels forming the composite top wall.

The Weight. of the bottle group, imposed on the bottom panel is transmitted through the infolded, vertical panel sections aswell as through'thejside walls, resulting in a very effective distribution of the weight of the carrier contents to the upper structure of the carrier.

By forming the carrier with thereinforcedupper. end structure, as illustrated, the lower edges of such end structure may extend well below the shoulders of the and 13 outwardly toward the adjacent open carrier end,

and somewhat inwardlytoward the axis of the carrier This maybe bestseen by comthrough its open ends.

Gussets 21 and 22 parison of FIGURES 2, 3 and 41 when in final position thus form struts or braces tending to hold their attached down-folded sections 14 and 15 quite firmly in position and resistant to inward pressure.

Advantage is taken of this 'feature'of holding the sec-- tions"14 and 15 relatively rigidly," After an, parts are in finalpos'ition except the extended. sections 28 and 30,

at one end of the carrier, and sections 29 and ,31, at the The down-folded panel sections on the inclined wall panels, taken together with the' overlapping panels carried by the ends of the top panels and secured to the sections on thefinclined panels, form a rigid top structure for the carrier permitting it to be manufactured from relatively lightweight paperboard and still have adequate strengthfor supporting its contained bottles. The in clined panels4 and- 5 are held in rigid position by the extended end-section's and these, in turn, add stiffness contained bottles and exclude light below the upper edges of the bottle areas upon which the usual bottle, label is applied. In a similar manner, the upwardly folded sections 11 on the bottom wall effectively exclude light from the area between the lower ends. of the bottles to lines above the lower ends of the labels. Additional y, the infolded flaps 52 tend to exclude light that might otherwise enter between the lower portions of the bottles at the ends of the rows. 1

When ,itisfdesired to remove bottles from the carrier, this may be done readily by applying inward thumb pressure on the tab 45 to enable the end of the overlapping strip of the composite top to be grasped. The strip is then pulled upward and lengthwise of the carrier to open the top of the carrier from the point of location of tab to the. termination of the tear strip atthe lower free edges of overlapping panels 28 and 30. With the tear strip thus removed, theinclined panels may be deflected outwardly, allowing bottles, as desired,.to be removed easily from the carrier.

While the present description setsgforth a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes 'may be made in the structure disclosed withoutdeparting from.

th-espirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the. presentembodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not, restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

1. A carrier for a group of bottles and similar articles,

formed from foldable paperboard-and comprising elongated, rectangular, interconnected bottom and side wall panels of similar lengths, a fiat top panel parallel to and narrower than therbottom panel andarranged to rest against the tops of bottles when contained within the carrier, inclined panels connecting the respective edges 0f the top panel and the upper edges ofrthe respective side panels, the ends of the inclined panels each having an extended section or flap hinged thereto swingable to operative positions aligned with the ends of the sidepanels to lie in a plane normal to the planes of the inclined 'panels and side panels, means for limiting the movement of saidextended sections to prevent, them from swinga ing inward of the carrier beyondsuchplane, and a flap hinged at each, end of vthe top panel,'suchend fla'ps respectively. being arranged *to overlap at least one ofthe extended sections on the inclin'ed panels when in operative position.v v

"2. A carrier for a group of bottles and similar articles,

formed, from foldablejpaperboard and comprising elongated, rectangular, interconnected bottom and side wall panels of similar lengths, a relatively narrow, inwardly and upwardly inclined panel carried on the upper edge of each side wallpanel, a panel carried by the upper edge of each inclinedrpanel, said panels being overlapped to-form-acomposite top panel parallel to and substantially' narrower than the bot-tom panel. "and' arranged to" contact fiatwise upon the tops of bottles when contained withm the'carrier, the ends of the inclined panels each 7 having an, extended sectionorcflap hinged thereto swingable to operative positions-aligned with the ends-of the. side panels to lie in 'a plane normalto-the planes of theinclined panels and side panels, means for limiting the movement'of said extended sections to prevent themfrom swinging inward of the carrier beyond such plane, and a flap hinged at each end, of the composite top. panel, such end flaps respectively being arranged to overlap at least one of the extended sections on the inclined walls when in operative position.

3. A carrier for a group of bottles and similar articles, formed from foldalole paperboard and comprising elongated, rectangular, interconnected bottom and side wall panels of similar lengths, a relatively narrow, inwardly and upwardly inclined panel carried on the upper edg of each side wall panel, a panel carried by the upper edge of each inclined panel, said panels being overlapped to form a composite top panel parallel to and substantially narrower than the bottom panel and arranged to contact fiatwise upon the tops of bottles when contained within the carrier, the ends of the inclined panels each having an extended section or flap hinged thereto swingable to operative positions aligned with the ends of the side panels to lie in a plane normal to the planes of the inclined panels and side panels, means for limiting the movement of said extended sections to prevent them from swinging inward of the carrier beyond such plane, and a tllap hinged at each end of each of the overlapping top panels, such flaps at the respective ends of the top panels being overlapped to form composite end flaps, such composite end flaps being swingable into overlapping relation to the extended sections on the inclined walls when in operative position.

4. In a carrier for a group of bottles, an elongated blank of foldable paperboard, cut and scored to provide a centrally located, rectangular bottom panel, a rectangular side wall panel hinged on the opposite sides of the bottom panel, an extended edge portion hinged on at least one side edge of the blank to provide separate foldable sections along the bottom panel and side panels, V- shaped foldable sections formed in the edge portion by fold lines converging to meet the adjacent corners of the bottom panel to provide gusset folds between the sections attached to the bottom panel and side panels, whereby folding the sections at the ends of the side panels inrwardly against such panels will bring the bottom wall section to an upright position relatively to the bottom wall, said bottom wall section having a central, inwardly doldable, tapered flap on its upper free edge arranged to extend inwardly of the carrier to serve as a light shield for bottles when enclosed within the carrier.

5. An open-end carrier for a group of two rows of bottles, such carrier being formed from foldable paperboard and comprising elongated, interconnected bottom and side wall panels of similar lengths, inwardly and upwardly inclined panels carried on the upper edges of the side wall panels, top panel sections carried on the upper edges of the inclined panels, said toppanels being secured in overlapping relation to form an elongated strip of double thickness extending parallel with the axis of the carrier through its open ends, foldable extended sections carried by the top panel sections and inclined panels at least at one end of the carrier, said extended sections being arranged at right angles to said carrier axis and secured in lapping relation to provide a rigid end construction in one upper end portion of the carrier, top panel sections having a tear-out strip formed between weakened tear lines disposed parallel with and outside the overlapping area of the top panel sections, and a displaceable tab integrally carried at the end of the outer overlapping top section in the area between the weakened tear lines to facilitate displacement of the tear-out strip, such tab being formed within the area of the extended end section carried by the outer overlapping top section.

6. An open end, paperboard carrier comprising side walls, top wall sections carried by the side walls, said top wall sections having lapping portions secured together in face-to-face relation to form an elongated, centrally extending reinforcing strip, the underlying, lapping top wall section terminatin at the open end of the carrier, a foldable end section carried on an edge of the outer lapping top wall section extending transversely to the length of the reinforcing strip, such end section being secured in a plane at right angles to the plane of the lapping top wall sections, lines of weakness formed in each of the lapping top wall sections adjacent to and outside the area of overlap to provide a tear strip, the lines of weakness on the outer of the two lapping sections extending into the end section to define a displaceable tab in such end section, such tab, upon displacement inwardly of the carrier, permitting grasping of the end of the tear strip for the purpose of removing such strip.

7. A wrap-around type carrier for a group of bottles comprising an elongated blank of foldable paperboard, cut and scored to provide a centrally located, rectangular bottom panel, a rectangular side wall panel hinged on the opposite sides of the bottom panel, a narrow, rectangular panel hinged to the edge of each side panel opposite that to which the bottom panel is hinged, partial top panels hinged to the edge of each narrow panel opposite that to which the side panel is hinged, the partial top panels being designed to be overlapped to form a composite top panel to contact hat upon the tops of bottles when contained within the carrier, such composite top panel being parallel to and narrower than the bottom panel, the narrow panels being disposed at an inclination upwardly and inwardly of the carrier to their line of hinge connection with the composite top panel, an extended edge portion hinged on at least one side edge of the blank to provide separate foldable sections along the bottom panel, side panels and inclined panels, V-shaped foldable sections formed in the edge portion by fold lines converging to meet the adjacent corners of the bottom panel to provide gusset folds between the sections attached to the bottom panel and side panels, whereby folding the sections at the ends of the side panels inwardly against such panels will bring the bottom wall section to an upright position relatively to the bottom wall, an additional gusset fold provided between the sections along the side walls and the sections along the inclined panels, such gussets being each formed between first fold line forming an extension of the hinge between the side wall panel and the inclined panel attached thereto and a second fold line extending at an acute angle to the first fold line and intersecting such line at the point where the adjacent corners of the side wall and inclined panel meet, such additional gusset serving, when the section on the side wall panel is folded inwardly against such panel, to cause the section on the inclined panel to move to a position normal to such panel in which position it resists further inward swinging movement, and a flap hinged on the composite top panel and arranged to swing into flat contact with at least one of the folded sections on the two inclined panels, whereby such flap may be secured to such folded section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,140 8/47 Allen 220-114 2,911,136 11/59 Stone 206-65 2,943,427 7/60 Fisher 206-65 2,982,400 5/61 Andre. 2,993,635 7/61 Arneson 220-112 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,704 10/ 33 Switzerland.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR A GROUP OF BOTTLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, FORMED FROM FOLDABLE PAPERBOARD AND COMPRISING ELONGATED, RECTANGULAR, INTERCONNECTED BOTTOM AND SIDE WALL PANELS OF SIMILAR LENGTHS, A FLAT TOP PANEL PARALLEL TO AND NARROWER THAN THE BOTTOM PANEL AND ARRANGED TO REST AGAINST THE TOPS OF BOTTLES WHEN CONTAINED WITHIN THE CARRIER, INCLINED PANELS CONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE EDGES OF THE TOP PANEL AND THE UPPER EDGES OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE PANELS, THE END OF THE INCLINED PANELS EACH HAVING AN EXTENDED SECTION OR FLAP HINGED THERETO SWINGABLE TO OPERATIVE POSITIONS ALIGNED WITH THE ENDS OF THE SIDE PANELS 